Sorry if this is in the wrong place, I didn't really know where to put it. Anyway, I have been playing bass for a while now and I started playing guitar last year. The thing is that I've lost my motorvation on the bass. There aren't very many interesting new songs for me to learn and my skills don't really seem to be improving. Do you have any ideas for inspiring me on the bass?

This is the perfect place for it...First of all how old are you and how long have you played bass? What styles of music do you like to play on bass? There are lots of interesting songs out there...For me its very fun to play RHCP for example and when I started playing I was very improving on my skills too that way in comparison to year when I was playing less demanding stuff ..Also I lately played songs for fun like You Are The One I Want - theme from the movie Grease or Freak Out - La chick..Its a very fun bass line I suggest to try learning songs that sound advanced to you (I don't know what level you are) and that way you will be improving very fast..If you play stuff that easy for you , hardly you would improve..Also try practicing different techniques that you don't know..Don't practice stuff that you are comfortable with..Listen to great players like Victor Wooten, Stu Hamm, Billy Sheehan ,Marcus Miller , Stanley Clark...Try playing some songs from their repertoire..Or maybe you could try playing some disco songs (they all have great bass lines)..Or maybe bass lines from band "Tool" ??! Try out different styles..Also for inspiring part, try finding a band to play with..Bass is a support instrument in its nature and really shines only on stage with a live band..Many band are looking for bass players..If you're into it try out..Making people dance to your groove on gigs gives you amazing feeling!! Bass is a fun instrument and completely different than guitar, don't give it up easily!

Thanks for your advice and quick response! I'm 15 at the moment and I'm into all different styles really. I'll look up all the bass lines that you suggested and try them out. One question though: are there any interesting techniques you could recommend I try? I can do slapping alright and a bit of tapping aswell. Anyway thanx for your advice it's really helped.

Thats great of you being 15!! Don't loose the will to play because you can achieve a lot till you get to be 20 and killing that bass! ehheehhe Techniques , lets see...Slapping has a lot to it..You can try double thumb stuff like Victor Wooten does? I did a lesson about it (beginer one) , also if you like tapping listen to Stu Hamm there are lots of great tapping songs..Also Billy Sheean is using it all the time..If you liked Christmas tapping , you can try my second lesson about it - http://www2.guitarmasterclass.net/misc-les...tapping-lesson/ ..You will find a great left hand strength exercise hidden in it Just don't overdo it... Also I hope you will find a band to groove with - its addictive !

Thanks again for your help! It's meant a lot to me. One more question though, recently I've been trying to get a good practice routine together. I'm not really sure how long I should spend on it each day or how I should alternate between bass and guitar. Once again your wisdom will be much appreciated.

Lets see about the practice routine! Generally 1-2 hours a day would do it fine! If its only 1 hour its ok too..I would suggest to make priorities here regarding what instrument you want to be your main one and than give it slight advantage in practice time like 60% bass 40% guitar , or even 70% bass 30% guitar..I understand that you played bass longer than guitar so its for me logical to continue with it (if it feels right - you like groove,rhythm,drums).. I would suggest practicing using a note book and metronome and writing down values you achieve..Also I think one day in a week you should take off and just relax and have fun..(That way you will be still improving).Make a practice plan in a notebook..Write down techniques (and theory) you want to enhance during particular week..Distribute time equally between them in a one day practice session,don't put too many different techniques in there allow enough time for every one...Write down your progress (from Metronome) in a notebook.Don't spend much time practicing techniques and stuff you are already very comfortable with..Its ok to play a song or two before and after the practice session..Remember to WARM UP well before going into the session..Have a clock always near you so you can keep good track of time..You started to play at right age , you can do wonders if you make a practice plan....

Thanks again, you've been amazing help! I'll start a new routine from tomorrow. I'll also try to use some of your lessons to further my techniques. Thanks again for your quick and helpful responses. You are truly the greatest bass player I've ever met.

I have a question for you too...In school, we have to from a band with 5 people. Bassist dropped out, so we had to find a guitar player willing to play the bass. (There's only one real bass player in my grade)We asked some other guy if he wanted to play bass. It's an incredibly easy song to learn, so playing bass instead of guitar shouldn't be a problem (Blink 182 - All The Small Things).But he doesn't want to play the bass because "it isn't as important as guitar, it's a less superior instrument".I think this is complete nonsense, but I don't know how to explain what the use of bass is, so he will participate after all... (I know how important bass is, but I can't explain it...)How do you cope with people saying bass is an inferior instrument?

(Just asked another guy if he wants to play bass, but I get the same answer )

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Music is supposed to break down walls, smash through barriers; and free your mind!

Well I play in a 4 people band (guitar,bass,drums,vocal) and bass is very much present and important there.I listen to a lot of young players here and you can clearly hear who is playing it right and who isn't..It not a guitar with less strings..Bass gives along with drums the basic and all important groove and people react to it by dancing and everything..If its a bad bass line , well people in audience won't have much fun during that song - no matter what you play on guitars etc About playing it right and not that I mentioned above..Well I can easily spot a bass player that is underestimating his own instrument.Its not about playing roots with a pick, you have to have the groove and good stage presence...Check out the RHCP ??! Is bass just support there ? Or Iron Maiden.Its just in the way how you play it..Often after a good show than you get congratulations from different audience members for you bass stuff..Tell him not to think of bass as a inferior instrument and that he will shine through on stage only depending on his playing and stage presence.He should try to play it like real bass player , groovy and fingerstyle The simplest bass lines get to sound awesome if played with right emotion..Also bass players get all the chicks (especially if they sing in the same band ) hehehehehe

One more good point to playing bass: You can get into bands really easily. Hardly anyone plays it.

One more thing though, I've heard a lot about "getting the groove", internalizing the rythm and stuff like that. I don't really know how that works, I've got alright rythm but it's not amazing. Also I can't sing while I play the bass (or any other instrument) I can only sing in time with what I'm playing. Are there any tricks for getting in the groove or learning to sing while you play?

Well first of all when getting into the groove think of bass as extension of drums and like a percussive instrument - its much closer to that than to guitar..People I hear sometimes try playing bass like guitar and it doesn't get to sound very tasty..You have to think more like a drummer here and if you do that you are on the right track Ideally bass and drums blend together and make a strong groovy foundation for the song..

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One more good point to playing bass: You can get into bands really easily. Hardly anyone plays it.

Well thats a very strong point also..One of reasons I started to play was that fact too...When people start playing they more often pick up the guitar because they can sings songs along with it and its ok for one man to play alone at home..With bass you can't be much of a "one man band" at home instantly when you start but when you advance you can easily impress other Same thing is with drums..About playing and singing..Well I don't sing much and I also have problems when I have to sings one thing and play completely other..I find it just a matter of practice..Playing will have to get second nature to you (not thinkg about it when playing) so you could concentrate on singing..Try singing and playing slowly to see how and in what rhythm vocal line blends with bass..This is little tough to master but with regular practice can be done in time !!Often bass players that are singers in a band play little less complicated lines so they can focus on singing...